HO Train Sets for Sale – 17 Top Picks

​There are about a bazillion great reasons to help your kiddo find a hobby. For starters, they help them learn about about self-esteem, problem solving, and decision-making.

Hobbies teach them how to follow instructions and to organize, and how to deal with frustration, just to name a few benefits. They also give them the chance to discover new talents, feel a sense of accomplishment, and decompress from their day-to-day (yes, kids need to decompress too!).

​Model railroading is an awesome hobby, and it can be a source of fun for the whole family.

Send your child on a new and exciting adventure to learn about the engineering, mechanics and aesthetics of trains, all through play. Teach your son or daughter about history with the DeWitt Clinton, the first steam locomotive in NY and the fourth in the US, or a Civil War with a flat car from the period.

You're best bet is an HO scale train set, of which there are lots of great options.

We took a good look at the following HO train sets by Bachmann Trains and Bachmann Industries, and one by Life-Like Trains (the last one):

You can't go wrong with these models, and there's most certainly something for every kind of train enthusiast in our list below. If, however, your little one is passionate about wooden trains, you should check out this great article, or if she likes train set tables, don't miss this excellent overview.

Let's get started then! All aboard!

Bachman Trains Thoroughbred Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set

Your kiddo will love chugging and tooting through the living room with his very own HO scale train set, like this one from Bachmann. The set itself comes with two freight cars and a caboose to provide endless hours of fun around the track. He will be beyond entertained as the train speeds by and completes missions.

What we love:

The train comes with a functional headlight that lights up

The track is easy for kids to snap together

The speed controller for the train is easy to operate

What we don't love:

Customers say that if the train is going too fast, it can derail

Customers say that the tracks can separate at times, which may be frustrating for small children

Bachmann Trains Santa Fe Flyer Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set

If your son or daughter is fascinated by trains, then this Santa Fe Flyer HO scale train set is the perfect addition to his or her collection. It moves lightening fast on the tracks, which extend in a 36-inch circle, allowing the train plenty of room to move around freely.

What we love:

This set comes with a power pack and a speed controller that are easy to use

Bachmann Trains Pacific Flyer Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set

Your tiny train conductor will spend hours playing with the Bachmann Trains Pacific Flyer train set. It's specifically designed to pack a speedy punch while the train circles the track. The pieces of the track snap together easily and your little one will be excited to be able to control the speed of the locomotive with the handheld speed controller. This is one of our favorite HO train sets for sale.

What we love:

The set comes with two freight cars and a caboose

The track creates a 36-inch circle when assembled

The train comes with a 0-6-0 steam locomotive and has a functional headlight

Bachmann Rail Chief Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale

Chugga-chugga, choo-choo! The Bachmann Rail Chief train set is a great gift for any little boy or girl who loves trains. The set is ready to run out of the box and your child will love piecing together the track, which is made from steel roadbed. The train comes with a working headlight for fun playtime, with the lights on and in the dark.

What we love:

The set comes with a 5-car HO scale train

This set includes accessories needed to create a city scene, including telephone poles, street signs, and more

The set comes with a power pack and easily plugs into any AC outlet

What we don't love:

Customers have said that you may need to play with the wiring a bit to find the right spot to make the train run without interruption

Bachmann Trains Chattanooga Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set

Round and round the train goes, where it's heading—nobody knows! The Bachmann Trains Chattanooga train set is the perfect toy for your little train aficionado. The set comes with a working signal bridge, 48 different figures, and telephone poles to create a realistic look. What's even cooler: the locomotive has a working smoke stack and an operational headlight to light the path ahead.

What we love:

The train set comes with a working headlight and smoke stack

This set comes with a speed controller, which is easy to use and allows for control of the train

This set comes with 132 total accessories and 3 freight cars

What we don't love:

The train cars in this set are hard to keep together at times

If the train is going too fast, it might derail

Some customers felt that the hooks on the freight cars can break easily

Bachmann Durango and Silverton HO Scale Ready to Run Electric Train Set

If your child loves trains and everything about them, she will love the Bachmann﻿ Durango and Silverton train set. Your child can build an entire railroad system and then watch as the train takes off for some fast action. The track is easy to snap together, and she'll love watching as the train transports tourists around the city or hauls loads of supplies back and forth!

What we love:

The train and the set itself looks realistic

You can use any HO scale trains on this track

The set is easy to assemble and you can have the train running in less than 20 minutes

What we don't love:

The train set works best when it is placed on a table or completely flat surface

Customers have said that the wire pieces under the train cars may derail the train

Bachmann Trains Emily's Passenger Set Ready-to-Run HO Train Set

“Emily really knows her stuff.” If your child loves Emily from Thomas and Friends, then he or she will get a real kick out of playing with the Bachmann Trains Emily’s passenger set. This is a great starter set for introducing any child to the wonderful world of trains. The track is easy to put together, and your child will love watching Emily race around.​

What we love:

All of the train cars in this set have universal couplers to hook up to other sets

The locomotive has a moving eye on the front of it

The locomotive and train cars are detailed and well made

This set comes with an easy-to-use speed controller

What we don't love:

Some customers say that the connectors do not fit together as tightly as they should

Customers say that the train cannot pull all of the cars attached to it in a speedy manner

Your child loves the lights, sounds, and feeling they get when a train rumbles on by, and now you can let them experience it time and time again right in your own living room. The Bachmann Industries Echo Valley train set with DCC sound locomotive is the perfect toy. The locomotive even has a functioning headlight and whistles!

What we love:

The train is a digital command control, which means you can control the locomotive directly

This set comes with an E-Z track system, to make set up fast and simple

The locomotive makes noise to imitate a true train

What we don't love:

Some customers have said that they wish the track was not simply oval in shape

If the train goes too fast, it may derail

The pieces on the caboose are small and may pose a choking hazard for very small kids

Bachman Trains Overland Limited Train Set

Trains, trains, everywhere trains! Your conductor better hop into gear because the Bachmann Trains Overland limited train set is ready to ride. Your child will love watching the train move across the tracks at fast speeds controlled by him or her. This set comes with nine cars that all lock together for a fun adventure, any and every day of the week, morning, noon or night.

What we love:

This set comes with a large oval track

The train in this set has working smoke and a functioning headlight

The track is easy to put together and snaps into place

What we don't love:

Some people have had problems with the wheels falling off the train

The train may derail when going too fast

The track must be placed on a flat surface for the train to run smoothly

When Santa can’t get the job done on time, your little conductor can come to the rescue with the Bachmann Industries Jingle Bell Express. The train is bright red and green, helping keep the Christmas spirit alive. Your kiddo can watch as the elves load up the train and send it on its way to save Christmas Day!

What we love:

This set comes with an easy-to-use speed controller for complete control

Your little conductor is going to be able to control the actions of his own train right in your living room with the Bachmann Industries Thunder Chief train set. This badboy comes with a sound feature that allows you to listen to the train's bells and horns. The easy-to-use digital control system gives your child complete control of the train and how fast it goes around the track. Let the fun begin!

What we love:

This set comes with Bachmann’s exclusive E-Z track system for quick and easy setup

The sound effects on this locomotive are realistic and loud

The DCC controller is easy to use and allows for supreme control of the train

Trains, lions and elephants, oh my! If your child loves the circus and trains, the Bachmann Industries Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Ringmaster train set is the perfect gift. It comes with beautifully-decorated train cars that will grab your child’s attention, and once this train takes off on the track, you know that the circus is not far away.

What we love:

This set is made to the National Model Railroad Association standards

It comes with a locomotive, water tank car, performers’ car, horses’ car, and a caboose

The locomotive has a working headlight

The track is easy to assemble and snaps into place

What we don't love:

Some people say that, since the wheels are made of plastic, they don't stay on the train very well

Bachmann Trains the DeWitt Clinton Ready-to-Run HO Train Set

Transport your child back to 1831 as the original DeWitt Clinton made its first trip. The Bachmann Trains DeWitt Clinton train set is the perfect replica for a future history buff and train conductor. The train comes with a speed controller for superior control while it runs on the track.

What we love:

This set comes with a DeWitt Clinton locomotive and three DeWitt Clinton coach cars

The locomotive comes with a skew-wound motor

The track is easy to assemble and is made from nickel silver

What we don't love:

The cars in this set are made from plastic, which keeps them from moving quickly on the track

If your child loves trains and you want to introduce her to a bit of history, then the Bachmann﻿ Civil War train set is the perfect gift. This set comes with a Civil War-era flat car that will take you back to the bombardment of Fort Sumter. As you imagine hearing the shots ring out and horses squeal in fear, your train will be rumbling along the track ahead.​

What we love:

The set comes with military figurines, cannons, and horses to create a realistic scene

The train has a functional headlight to light up the track ahead

The track conforms with the National Model Railroad Association standards

The trains in this set are made to replicate the Civil War era and are very detailed

What we don't love:

Some say that the train’s wheels do not stay on the train or track very well

Previous customers feel that the train needs some type of weight on it to move flawlessly around the track

Life-Like Trains HO Scale Golden Thunder Electric Train Set

How would your son or daughter like to have his or her own unique railroad system? Well, now he can with the Life-Like Trains Golden Thunder electric train set. It comes with realistic pieces, including utility poles with transformers connected to them, road signs, and more. The set is easy to assemble and the train moves faster than you can say "HO scale train set".

What we love:

The set comes with 120 pieces

It comes with a pier and a bridge for elevated play

It's very realistic looking

The train's speed is adjustable for superior control

What we don't love:

Customers have said that they have trouble placing the train on the set

Some have said that the cars do not stay together around the entire track

We hope you've enjoyed our list of 15 of the coolest HO train sets for sale. Now you know a little more about the many options available, and hopefully you're one step closer to bringing home that model train set!